Vijay Keshav Gokhale to be new Foreign Secretary

January 1, 2018, 9:07 PM IST

New Delhi: Senior diplomat Vijay Keshav Gokhale will succeed Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar as the Foreign Secretary, after the latter completes his tenure on January 28.

“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Vijay Keshav Gokhale (IFS: 1981), Secretary (Economic Relations), Ministry of External Affairs as the Foreign Secretary vice Dr. S Jaishankar, who is completing his tenure on 28.01. 2018,” said a statement by the Department of Personnel and Training.

Gokhale, who is presently the secretary (economic relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), will serve for a two-year fixed term after his appointment.

A 1981 batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Gokhale is the Indian ambassador to China.

Dr Jaishankar was appointed as foreign secretary on January 29, 2015. Last year, he was given a one-year extension in January. (ANI)